Best Adhesive For Nut Installation:

SG John said:
I prefer no glue. If I do have to use it, it's an amazingly tiny drop of Franklin's wood glue on the bottom of the nut. I always thought that if you glued it to the fingerboard, and ever needed to file any dried glue or chipped the fingerboard when removing the nut... you're screwed. You can always make accommodations for the bottom surface.
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Amp Mad Scientist said:
The less glue the better.
You need to be able to remove it easily.
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I WAS gonna say KY,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but AmpMad beat me to it.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Today, I just decided to fill a nut slot with a bone plug for practice...figure I can only get better...
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Looks nice, Robert.

Believe it or not, I've had good success with the baking soda/super glue method. I fixed a nut slot in my old Washburn that way. That repair lasted for years. Eventually, I replaced that nut with a new Graphtech nut and recently sold the guitar to @chilipeppermaniac. But, the repair never failed. I just replaced the nut because I didn't like the original plastic nut and was contemplating putting a Bigsby on the guitar, which I never did.
 
Nice work.

I read long ago to use super glue over wood glue. Wood glue binds TOO WELL with the wood, and when you eventually go to remove the nut, it can take wood with it. This has happened to me when I used wood glue. On the other hand, superglue SNAPS like plastic after a few whacks on the nut prior to removal. After that, clean the slot and you are on the way. Overall, the less glue the better, or none at all if you can get away with it. I have been playing my new guitar for a week with no glue on the nut, just string pressure to hold it in place. Of course, I don't use a trem
 
smitty_p said:
Looks nice, Robert.

Believe it or not, I've had good success with the baking soda/super glue method. I fixed a nut slot in my old Washburn that way. That repair lasted for years. Eventually, I replaced that nut with a new Graphtech nut and recently sold the guitar to @chilipeppermaniac. But, the repair never failed. I just replaced the nut because I didn't like the original plastic nut and was contemplating putting a Bigsby on the guitar, which I never did.
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AND this is ONE NICE GUITAR........................ It SINGS even unplugged.
 
smitty_p said:
Looks nice, Robert.

Believe it or not, I've had good success with the baking soda/super glue method. I fixed a nut slot in my old Washburn that way. That repair lasted for years. Eventually, I replaced that nut with a new Graphtech nut and recently sold the guitar to @chilipeppermaniac. But, the repair never failed. I just replaced the nut because I didn't like the original plastic nut and was contemplating putting a Bigsby on the guitar, which I never did.
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I've done that repair with baking soda and bone dust, as you have, with good results. On the vintage instruments I am taking in, the clients prefer a plug and re-slot, so I'm just trying to polish that skill set...
 
As for the best adhesive, I think a lot would depend on the nut material.

Elmer’s white glue would be great for something like bone. But, I wouldn’t use it on a slippery substance like Delrin. I used superglue when I made a Delrin but for my ‘74 SG. It worked out well. Delrin is completely non-porous and very slippery. Elmer’s would flake right off.
 
smitty_p said:
As for the best adhesive, I think a lot would depend on the nut material.

Elmer’s white glue would be great for something like bone. But, I wouldn’t use it on a slippery substance like Delrin. I used superglue when I made a Delrin but for my ‘74 SG. It worked out well. Delrin is completely non-porous and very slippery. Elmer’s would flake right off.
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Good point. What about brass???
 
Robert Herndon said:
Good point. What about brass???
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Brass is not recommended by me for nuts...
The best nuts are bone, fossilized mammoth ivory, Delrin Nylon etc.
There was a time when people were suckered into buying brass nuts because they thought it would increase sustain...of course it didn't increase the sustain at all.
When I was a teenager, I fell for the brass nut thing one time...but quickly learned.
I'm sure this did wonders for brass salesmen.

What I learned was that Gibson put the best parts on my SG guitar at the factory.
And I never should have messed with it.
What I learned is: the sound of the electric guitar comes from the wood it's made from.
And if you have crappy wood - it will always sound crappy, no matter what you do to it.
 
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Robert Herndon said:
Good point. What about brass???
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You know, I’ve pondered that before and have never really settled on an answer.

You might try experimenting with some left over brass stock and see what works well. I can see how Elmer’s might work. Although Elmer’s isn’t made for metal, the grooves left over from sanding may provide enough “bite” for the glue.

You do want a pretty solid attachment if you’ll be using the vibrato a lot. You don’t want the back and forth action of the string on the nut to work it loose.
 
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